Thursday, September 30 Time to Open the Gifts

Imagine the following scenario with me. Today is your dear friend's birthday and you've invited her to a special lunch (your treat) to celebrate her day. Her life is hectic so you've chosen a quiet, charming place known for food with flair. You have the gift of all gifts for her and an entertaining story to go with it. You have time to give her, and time is your most valuable gift. Today you can sit and chat and relax without needing to rush off to some other appointment. If she's game, you even have another little side trip you know she'll enjoy. You're probably more excited about the day than she is as you wait for her to arrive. 


When she finally comes through the door, she has that look in her eyes and a cell phone in her ear. She waves without smiling and heads toward the table you've arranged with her gift front and center. She still has the phone in her ear. She sits down and tries to continue her telephone call while sputtering an "I'm sorry" to you every once in a while to acknowledge you're there. Your server shows up and you become an interpreter for her hand motions and one word interjections. When she finally ends the call, she spends the next 15 minutes explaining who it was and why it was so important that she take the call at that particular time. 


As your food arrives, her cell phone rings again, she checks to see who it is and gives you the, "If I don't answer this one, life as we know it may halt completely" look and she's off again. When the call ends you get another description of why it was crucial to interrupt your time together to take the call. 


Finally, the time comes for gift presentation and you begin the story of how and where you found this special item and why it made you think of her. Her cell phone rings and you get another round of explanations, only this time she has to hurry off, promising that the next time you get together won't be like this. As you watch her scurry out the door, you turn back to finish your meal and notice she left your gift on the table, unopened. 


Honestly, would you plan anything special for this friend again?  


Every day God sets before us a table, the gift of His time and attention, and every day we decide whether or not to be gracious recipients or to do the minimum and squeeze Him in to check Him off our daily list. 


Dear Father, You've laid before us the gift of today and time with You. You set today's  table with abundant life and blessings designed with personal detail and precision. You desire to have us all to Yourself and to fill us and our lives with everything good. You know how hard we struggle with each day's challenges and You're constantly extending Your hand to us with what will nourish and satisfy us. You prepare a table for us each day, always ready, always watching for us to arrive and fellowship with You. You're  a Great, Good God and I thank You for Your perpetual efforts to bless us when we won't even sit still to focus on You. Forgive us for letting other concerns steal our time with You. Forgive us for leaving the cell phone on while we're dining at the table of the Bread of Life with You. Teach us to focus on Your Face and fill up on Your manna. Teach us to enjoy opening Your gifts.


In the name of Jesus, the Gift of all gifts






"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34


"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10




"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." James 4:13-15